UNITED NATIONS, Nov 18 (APP): A United Nations panel Tuesday adopted, by consensus, a resolution renewing the global commitment to the principle of self-determination for peoples still subjected to colonial, foreign and alien occupation, with Pakistan underlining that the UN places that right at the heart of its purposes and principles.
Co-sponsored by 65 countries, the resolution, submitted by Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, was adopted without a vote in the General Assembly’s Third Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural issues.
The resolution, which Pakistan has been sponsoring since 1981, serves to focus the world’s attention on the peoples still struggling for their inalienable right to self-determination, including those in Palestine and Kashmir.
The text is expected to come up for General Assembly’s endorsement next month.
Under its terms, the 193-member Assembly would declare its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention and occupation suppressing the right to self-determination of peoples and nations, calling upon those States responsible to cease them.
Introducing the resolution, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said that there were people still living under foreign occupation who are still denied this fundamental freedom. “Their legitimate aspirations are often met with excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, communication blockades, and attempts at demographic engineering, including illegal settlements.”
The right of self-determination, as a fundamental principle enshrined in the UN Charter, has been codified in many international documents, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Social and Cultural Rights, the Pakistani envoy said.
Under the terms of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would reaffirm the universal realization of the rights of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination as a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights.
The resolution also declared the General Assembly’s firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world.
It called on those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories, as well as all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment.
The Assembly would also deplore the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of these acts and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour.
The resolution urges the Human Rights Council to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation. It also requests the Secretary-General to report to the next Session of the General Assembly on this question.